User Feedback :: DSL FAQ Boot camp - Bring a helmet.

I agree!!

Brian
AwPhuch

Q) DSL has the ipw2100 driver, but when I try to load it, it says "Firmware not found" or something to that effect. Why doesn't DSL include the firmware for ipw2100?

A) Easy! Intel says we can't. The driver itself is liscensed under the GPL, so we can use it in DSL, but the firmware is not. Under Intel's liscense, anyone can download and use the firmware for free, as long as they download it ONLY from their project site. So we would be in violation of that liscense if the firmware was included in DSL.

In fact, when Knoppix included the firmware in beta releases of 3.4, Intel threatened to sue them if the firmware was not removed, so the Knoppix team took it out. And we don't wanna get sued, so we don't include it in DSL.

Quote (SaidinUnleashed @ Nov. 12 2004,13:47)

In fact, when Knoppix included the firmware in beta releases of 3.4, Intel threatened to sue them if the firmware was not removed, so the Knoppix team took it out. And we don't wanna get sued, so we don't include it in DSL.

ipw2100 is fully functional and rock solid stable on Knoppix V3.6. It was working on several of V3.4 releases too.

can load the controversial driver as mydsl. I run livecd on ram, let them come sue me..

cool, i guess they worked something out.

Everything in DSL is either GPL or BSD liscensed, and I think John wants to keep it that way, but there is nothing stopping people from downloading and using it.

-J.P.

ok, i am bored so i am putting some faqs here, some might have been discussed already but i am too lazy to read the whole thread (how long 'til the wiki is set up?).

Q: how can i even further reduce hardware requirements?

A: here is a way:

on a reasonably fastish machine do an hdinstall to the drive of the slow machine. boot from it (still from the fast machine) and do the following:
edit /home/dsl/.xinitrc and delete it's contents and replace with:

bsetbg -solid yellow& //or the colour of your choice
xtdesk

note: the & is required.

now fluxbox will not load and you will simply have a desktop with just icons. open xterm or whatever and have fun.

you could also replace xtdesk with xterm&, this would give you no icons but a terminal window. however be warned that when you close the xterm window the xserver will exit.
or emelfm. but same issues apply.

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